Combination tray and rack



Aug. 11, 1 925. 1,549,323

r: L. MITCHELL COMBINATION TRAY AND RACK Filed Jan. 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 11, 1925.- 1,549,323

T. L. MITCHELL COMBINATION TRAY AND RACK FiledJanQ 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DOUBLED ONCE TWlCE (TIMES TIMES 6 T MES 7 TIMES Patented Aug. M, 1925..

' STAT THOMAS L. MITCHELL, F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

COMBINATION TRAY AND RACK.

Application filed January 10, 1924.

and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Trays and Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to a combined tray and rack for use in the playing of the Chinese game Mah-jongg. The playing of this game requires the use of a large number of tiles, blocks, or cards, having various values, and it likewise requires the use of racks which are large and cumbersome, so that it is an inconvenience to carry them from place to place. It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a combined tray and rack for .usein the playing of the game referred to,

the device being so constructed that when the game is not being played, the tiles or cards or other game pieces may be housed within the device as well as the counters or chips which are employed, and the set may therefore be carried about with convenience. The invention also contemplates as a most important feature, providing a rack which may be readily brought into use and which,-

when not in use will constitute one wall of the tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray, one wall of which comprises right angularly disposed wings, the wall being so mounted that it may be tilted so that it will constitute ,a shelf or rack upon which the tiles, cards, or other game pieces may be disposed in an inclined position and in plain view of the player using the rack, the wall being likewise adjustable to inactive position in which position it will function solely as one wall of the tray.

In playing the game it becomes necessary at times to count from one end of the row of tiles comprising a wall, to determine which tiles are to be selected from-the wall, and the present invention therefore has as a further object to provide means whereby the location of any tile or other game piece may be instantly determined without calculation on the part of the, player.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the combined tray and rack embodying the invention, the view illustrating the manner in Serial No. 685,389.

which the tiles or other game pieces and appliances are to be stored within the tray when the apparatus is not in use;

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the tray in use;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the tray and rack in use;

Figure 4 is a vertical front to rear sectional view taken substantially on the line 4l4t of Figure 2 looking in the direction in dicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the chip or counter container shown in Figure 1 being, however, removed.

The device embodying the invention comprises a tray which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which is preferably of oblong rectangular form and comprises a rear wall 2, end walls 3, and a bottom 4, the front of the casing comprising the rack in which the tiles are to be supported and which will hereinafter be more specifically described.

The rack embodying the invention is in dicated in general by the numeral 5 and the said rack is preferably formed from sheet metal and comprises relatively right angularly disposed wall portions 6 and 7 which are preferably relatively braced by arcuate end wall portions 8. At the juncture of the wall portions 6 and 7 hinges 9 are secured to the under side of the said portion 7 and to the upper side of the bottom 4, the leaf of each hinge which is secured to the bottom 4 being preferably housed within a shallow rabbet 10 formed in the said upper side of the bottom 4 and extending along the forward edge thereof. The wall member 7 of the rack is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the relatively adjacent faces of the end walls 3 of the tray, whereas the wall member 6 is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the relatively remote faces of the said end walls, sov that when the rack is moved about its hinges 9 to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the projecting ends of the wall member 6 of the rack will abut or rest against the forward edges of the end walls 3 of the tray as best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. When the rack is in the position stated, the wall member 6 will constitute the front wall of the tray and at such time the tray may constitute a receptacle for'game pieces and the like as will presently be explained. In order that the upper side of the wall memher 7 may be substantially flush with the upper side of the bottom 4; of the tray when the rack is in the positions'hown in Figure 5, it is preferable that a second shallow rabbet 11 be formed in the upper side'o'fthe said bottom l of the tray immediately rearwardly of and parallel to the rabbet 10, the

rabbet 10 being of a depth to accommodate both leaves of the hinges 9, and the rabbet 11 being of a depth "to accommodate the portion of the wall member 7 beyond the-ends of the hinge leaves.

When the rack is to be employed during the playing of the game, it is to be swung to substantially the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings and likewise in Figure 2, in which position the wall member 6 will constitute a ledge or what might also be considered the bottom of the rack, the wall portion 7 constituting a rest or, in other words, the back of the rack. It is of course necessary ,to provide means for holding the rack 5 in both positions of its swinging adjustment, and while various means may be employed for this purpose, I prefer to make use of a detent such as illustrated in the drawings and; indicated in general by the numeral '12. The said detent 12 comprises an arm 13 whichmay be of thin metal and which is pivoted at its rear end, as at 14. upon oneiof the end walls 3, the arm extending substantially flat beside the inner face ofthe said end wall, so that it will occupy but little space within the tray, Near its forward end and in its under edge, the

arm 13 is formed with a notch 15, and rearwardly of thishOtch with a second notch indicated by the numeral 16. The wall member 6 of therack is formed, in a plane with the arm 13, with a notch indicated by the numeral. .17 and of a depth substantially equalto the distance between the upper end of the notch 15 and the upper edge of the said arm at its forward end. By reference now to Figures 1 and 5Vof the drawings, it will be observed that when the rack is not in use andis to serve as the front wall .ofthe tray, the rack is swung to position illustrated in Figure ,5 of theidraw'jngs, and'the detent arm 13 is lowered to position with its forward end engaged in the notch 17, the notch 15 receiving the upper portion of this wall member immediately below the said notch 517. In this position of the parts. the upper edge of the .detent arm 13 will be flush, at its forward end. with theupper edge of the end wall 3 "and the wall member 6. When therack is to be employed during the playing o f-the game, the detent arm 18 is lifted and the rack 5 is tilted about its hinges until its wall member 7 assumes substantially the position shown in Figure 4; of the drawings whereupon, "by lowering the 'detent arm, the upper edge of the said wall portion 7 will be engaged in the notch 16. 'It will be obvious by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, that when the "rack is in use and the tray is disposed in front of a player, playing tiles disposed within the rack, and indicated by the numeral 18, will be supported in a slightly inclined position directly in front of the player and in plain view. The rack, "there fore, constitutes a highly efiicient means for supporting the playing'tile s in such position that the player can manipulate the tiles with the least inconvenience, and likewise obviating the employment of climbersome bars or supports which have harem foregbeen employed insome instances and which are inconvenient to pack I'away and carry about. The tiles :18 do not differ in any respect, so far as marking isconcerned, from the tiles which are ordinarily employed in playing the game heretofore referred to. y

In accordance with the dimensions of the tiles 18, the rack 5 is proportioned toaccommodate a maximum number of eighteen tiles. It will be understood by those familiar with the playing of the game, that, as determined by the throw of ,dice, ti s are to b withdrawn fronithe wall, the tiles to be withdrawn being determined by counting from the tile at the extreme right. In

counting the tiles in. the order stated, considerable time is obviously lost, and it is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide means whereby this time may be saved. The said means comprises a stripl?) which is secured by adhesive or. otherwise to the inner surface of the rear wall 2 and extendslongitudinally 0f the saidwall, the strip being divided by ruled lines 20, into a number of divisions which are consecutively numbered by ordinals 21, ranging numerL cally in ascending order from the right h nd end of the strip to theleft hand end thereof. The divisions are of a width corresponding to the breadth dimensionpf the tiles, and, consequently, when the tiles are properly arranged to form a wall at the rear of the wall 2, each tile will occupy a position immediately in front of the respective division of the said strip 19. It is evident that a player'can, by reason of thisarrangcment, determine at a glance which tile in the row is ,to be removed.

For the convenience of the players, a score sheet 22 tabulated in accordance with the requirements of the game, as illustrated in Figure 3. is secured by adhesive or other' wise, to the upper side of the bottom 4 of the tray in rear of the rabbet 11 and maybe referred to by the player using the device, with the utmost convenience.

Having now ascertained the manner in which the device is to be used during the playing of the game, reference will be had to Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings, which figures illustrate the manner in which the device is to be employed as a storage receptacle for the game pieces and the like employed in playing the game. As shown in Figure 5, and as previously explained, the wall member 6 is designed to constitute the front wall of the tray when the rack 5 is swung to the position shown in this figure and secured by the detent arm 13. The tiles or other game pieces are to be packed within the tray, and there may be also arranged within the tray, a supplemental tray, indicated by the numeral 28 and which is designed to contain poker chips or other counters employed in connection with the playing of the game.

While the combined tray and rack embodying the invention and hereinbefore described is designed primarily for use in playing the game heretofore referred to, it is obvious that the device might, either with or without modifications, be employed as a display device for merchandise, the merchandise being initially packed in the tray proper and some articles thereof being disposed within the rack for display purposes.

It will be understood that instead of applying a strip 19 to the rear wall of the tray, the ordinals might equally as well be painted or printed upon the face of this wall.

It is obvious that the device embodying the invention might be employed in the playing of any other type of game heretofore or hereafter devised.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tray having an open side, and a rack supported within the said open side of the tray and tiltably adjustable to assume a position closing said side and a posit-ion to support articles removed from the tray.

2. In a device of the class described, a tray having an open side, a rack supported within the said open side of the tray and tiltably adjustable to assume a position closing said side and a position to support article's removed from the tray, and means for maintaining the rack in either position of adjustment.

3. In a device of the class described. a tray having an open side. and a rack supported within the said open side of the tray and comprising relatively angularly disposed wall members, the rack being tiltably adjustable to assume a position with one of the wall members perpendicular to the bottom of the tray and constituting means for closing the said open side of the tray, the said rack being also tiltably adjustable to assume a position in which the said wall member will constitute a supporting ledge and the other wall member will occupy an upwardly inclined position to constitute a rest for articles removed from the tray and disposed upon the ledge.

4. In a device of the class described, a tray having an open side, a rack supported within the said open side of the tray and comprising relatively angularly disposed wall members, the rack being tiltably adjustable to assume a position with one of the wall members perpendicular to the bottom of the tray and constituting means for closing the said open side of the tray, the said rack being also tiltably adjustable to assume a position in which the said wall member will constitute a supporting ledge and the other wall member will occupy an upwardly inclined position to constitute a rest for articles removed from the tray and disposed upon the ledge, and a single means for holding the said rack in either position of adjustment.

5. In a device of the class described. a tray having an open side. a rack comprising integrally connected relatively angularly disposed wall members, the members being hinged substantially at their juncture to the bottom of the rack at the open side thereof, whereby the rack may be tilted to position with one of the wall members extending vertically and closing the said side of the rack and the other wall member resting upon the bottom of the rack. and likewise adjusted to position with the first mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and outwardly to constitute a supporting ledge and the second-mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and inwardly to constitute a rest for articles disposed upon the ledge.

6. In a device of the class described, a tray having an open side. a rack comprising integrally connected relatively angularly disposed wall members. the members being hinged substantially at their juncture to the bottom of the rack at the open side thereof, whereby the rack may be tilted to position with one of the wall members extending vertically and closing the said side of the rack and the other wall member resting upon the bottom of the rack, and likewise adjusted to position with the first mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and outwardly to constitute a supporting ledge and the second-mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and inwardly to constitute a rest for articles disposed upon the ledge, and means for holding the said rack in either position of adjustment.

7. In a device of the class described. a tray having an open side. a rack comprising integrally connected relatively angularly disposed wall members, the members being hinged substantially at their juncture to the bottom of the tray at the open side thereof;

whereby the rack maybe'ti'lted to position with one of the wall members extending vertically and closing the said Side of the rack and the other well member Testing upon the 'bottom of the/rack, and likewise adjusted to position with th'e first mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and outwardly to constitute a supporting ledge and the second mentioned wall member inclined upwardly and inwardly to constitute a rest for articles disposed upon the ledge, {and meansfor holding the said rack in either position of adjustment, the'said means comprising a detent arm pivotallly connected with one wall of the tray and having notches to accommodate the free edges of the said wall members of the rack.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS L. MITCHELL. he] 

